Page 129 of A Love Like Venom

"You wouldn't," she argues.

"You're right he might not," I agree with her surprising all of us. I move directly in front of Reed and position myself to where my back is pressed against his front. Outstretching my arm I then cover my hand over his that is aiming the gun right at her head. I even have my finger positioned with his hovering over the trigger. Just the lightest push and her head will decorate the trailer walls. "But I will."

"You don't have it in you. You're not strong enough to do it," she disagrees but I can see the doubt in her eyes. Good. I want her to be afraid. I want her questioning what I will do.

"You think I'm weak because I remained quiet all those years. That my kindness proved me to be frail. All those years I built a resilience that not even you can destroy. So go ahead, mistake me for being weak once again and see where that will get you."

Reed then places his palm on the curve of my hip. A reassurance that he's here with me. We are in this together. This stance shows us as united.

Her eyes bounce between Reed and I with uncertainty and fear. She swallows heavily as she takes a few faltering steps backwards. The whole time I remain strong. I keep my hand with his over the gun and our fingers over the trigger.

She will never mistake me for weak ever again.

When she's close to the door, a measurable safe distance from us she sneers, "No matter how strong you think you are, Alice you are no match for Razor."

His name causes me to stiffen as my breath falters. She's pleased by my reaction. A reaction I did not want her to have the satisfaction of.

Reed's hand slips from my hip. Then he wraps his arm around my torso as his hand splays out against my abdomen. I can feel his breath on my neck as he whispers in my ear, "He will never harm you, angel. I got you." Just like that I find myself relaxing in his hold. He will never allow for anyone to hurt me. This much I know is true and I find a great comfort in it.

"He's looking for you," she tells me before continuing, "Everyone in this town knows it. There's even a reward. Sixty thousand to anyone who can bring you to him alive. It's like his very own game. To the people of Hollows Point that's more than what they see in a year. It's like hitting the jack pot for them. Maybe I'll cash it in. I'll tell him I saw you here. Perhaps I'll tell him you're now under Reed's protection. He'll know exactly where to find you. But if I was you I would watch your back. You've just made another enemy that you can't afford."

"You were always an enemy, Caitlin. And if anyone should watch their back it should be you. You'll never know when it's your body I'm going to be burning next." My threat is not empty and by the steel in my tone and the darkness in my eyes she can see that.

And because I want her to fear me I fire the gun, the bullet whizzing right past her ear. She stands in total shock. Mouth agape. Breathing erratic. But it’s when her hand shakily comes to cup her ear to be met with blood her adrenaline kicks in .

She dashes for the door with stumbling legs and hurriedly makes her exit all the while crying in pain..

And it's when her car peels away do I only then go limp.

My body falls back against Reed as my knees give out from underneath of me. He catches me. Disregarding of the gun and sweeping me up in his arms. But everything suddenly feels like too much. The adrenaline I once had, the courage to stand up against her leaves from my body.

Now all that is left is the mental warfare on my mind.

And it doesn't even have to do with Razor. It doesn't have to do with the fact that he has a reward for my capture.

It's because she knew.

She knew.

Tears that I kept back fall freely down my cheeks. They cascade down my face like a waterfall.

As I cry out my wail is not silent.

It's piercing.

It'sdeafening.

All the while he holds me closer. Stroking my hair and running a soothing hand up and down my back. He gives me the gentlest kisses on the top of my head and forehead. He whispers reassuring words in my ear. He tells me how much he loves me. He brushes away my tears the best that he can.

He lets me cry. He lets me cry as sobs wrack my entire body. He lets me cry until my tears run dry and my throat is raw.

As I look up at him with blurry eyes I find a tear of his own running down his face. Bringing my hand up I'm about to wipe it away when he catches my hand. He then brings it to his lips and gives each knuckle a kiss.

"Your crying," I say hoarsely.

"Your pain is my pain, Alice. I can't bear to see you in such agony. And I want nothing more than to rip apart every person that has hurt you. Tear them limb from limb writhing in as much pain as they've caused you. I want them to suffer for all that they've made you suffer. They deserve far worse than death. And I promise you this Alice Hall, I will rein down hell fire to allthat hurt you and I will make sure not one flame will touch your skin." He gives me his word, a vow I know that he will not break. And perhaps I should be scared how his mind can drift to a dark path. How the darkness he possess can allow him to kill easily.

But I'm not scared of his darkness nor do I see him as a monster.

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